Why best free video editing software for YouTube and not other marketing channels, you might wonder!

Well, the reason lies in the popularity of YouTube among internet users.

According to statistics, 1 billion hours of YouTube videos are watched daily. Also, 90% of digital consumers in the US use YouTube, which makes it the most popular choice for watching online videos. Most importantly, 81% of US parents use YouTube to find content to entertain or educate their children.

These statistics clarify that YouTube videos pose a vast potential market for small and big companies.

Literally, every business has a YouTube channel nowadays. But, for many small startups and budding entrepreneurs, hiring a professional video editor might sound exorbitant. If you are someone looking for free or budget-friendly video editing software, you have landed in the right place.

So, let’s dive into the list of best free software for YouTube video production and find out which one fits well with your editing goals.

We have divided the video editing tools into three categories: beginners, professionals & both.

Best video editing software for YouTube with free features - for beginners

Beginners need user-friendly software with less-complicated DIY features. The following tools are suitable for novices to beginners.

1. Shotcut

Shotcut is an open-source video editor with cross-platform compatibility. The best part is that the software is free. You can just start using it right after downloading without much fuss.

The software was initially designed mainly for Linux and thus came with the odd interface. But, it works on all platforms with top-notch editing features.

Best features

• The software supports various audio and video formats, including FFmpeg, 4K, ProRes, and DNxHD.

• Users don’t need to import the video file into the media library. That means you get to save a lot of your precious time with native time line editing.

• Shotcut allows a multi-format timeline to combine resolutions and edit frame rates within a project.

• It supports 4K resolution and captures from SDI, HDMI, webcam, X11 screen, JACK & Pulse audio, IP stream, and Windows DirectShow devices.

• This free video editor offers advanced audio filters such as balance, compressor, delay, down-mix, equalizer, normalize, reverb, stereo enhancer, and swap channels.

Pros 👍 :

1. Cut off audio from a video file

2. Simply drag-n-drop files from the file manager

Cons 👎 :

The interface isn’t quite easy to navigate through; you must refer to tutorials time and again to get a good grip on it.

Verdict :

The free software is suitable for anyone who wants to get the hang of video editing. No-load on the pocket is the best thing, right?

2. Video Pad

If you are a Windows user and a beginner, you must check out this software. It offers many features and editing tools to let you create excellent videos without much hassle.

Best features

• The library is full of pre-made transitions and effects that you can play around with before coming up with your masterpiece.

• Create movies in multiple resolutions and directly export them to YouTube and other social media platforms

• Allows 3D video editing in its free version with limited features and offers 2D to 3D stereoscopic conversion

• The software allows you to add custom logos and watermarks to your videos to make them authentic.

Pros 👍 :

1. Visual effects are available in templates to use easily on any project

2. Advanced audio effects, such as choral, echo, distortion, and more, are easily accessible

3. You can edit 360-degree videos for YouTube and VR headsets

Cons 👎 :

The free editor is for non-commercial use. You need to upgrade to the Master’s edition at $99 to unlock all features.

Verdict :

The app is for you if your needs are limited to basic short videos with appealing design and visuals. But, the software isn’t quite compatible with a higher level of editing like animation edits or creating video walls for different projects.

3. Flixier

It is one of the most effective video editors because it is cloud-based. You can edit and create videos on it from anywhere, anytime. The cloud-based software comes free with 2GB of cloud storage for all. For more cloud storage, you can opt for the paid versions, Creator and Business, at $10 & $25 per month, respectively.

Best features

• Real-time collaboration with colleagues or other connections for easy editing and publishing of videos

• Comments on videos can be added by just one simple click on the video, just like Google Docs, making collaboration even easier.

• Create unique videos with built-in motion titles, transitions, and music files

• Unlimited project downloads with the free version

• One million free images and video clips are available

Pros 👍 :

1. The free version comes with most of the advanced features

2. Reduces cost on hardware as it’s a cloud-based video editor; no need to buy high-spec devices for storage and other facilities.

Cons 👎 :

1. The free version allows one week of storage time.

2. The application will add a watermark on your video if you are using the free version.

Verdict :

The software is best for entrepreneurs or small business owners with a low budget for video marketing. One gets excellent scope for video storytelling with pre-set effects without spending a single penny on the app.

4. Kapwing

This fantastic software is loaded with all the best features a marketer would require to make top-notch videos. Add elements like texts, pictures, or sound to your videos and trim the clip to your desired length. You can create your YouTube videos for free, but limited features will be available. The paid version gives you pro benefits at just $16 per month (currently on discount).

Best features

• Convert video file formats easily

• Generate memes and GIFs effortlessly

• Remove silences from your video automatically with a smart cut.

• Creative video walls can be made in just a few clicks.

• Lengthen a short video with loop & repeat feature.

• Reverse your video to give it a rewinding effect.

• Watermark your videos with a tailor-made logo or branding

Pros 👍 :

1. Smart AI tools to translate your videos to any language and add subtitles of the same

2. Remove the background of the videos and the images you add to them with intelligent AI tools.

3. Pin texts or emojis to moving objects in the videos

4. Even with the free version, you won’t get any watermark on up to 3 exports in a month.

Cons 👎 :

1. You can store content for two days only, and then it will expire unless you export

2. 250MB file upload limit with the free edition

3. Video transcription is limited to 10 minutes

Verdict :

This is the ideal software for product marketers or entrepreneurs who need quick video creation using smart tools and advanced features without making it a costly affair.

5. KineMaster

The mobile app brings you the comfort and wonder of editing videos on desktop software. And the best part is that it’s a potential video editor for YouTube with a free subscription. So, a high-end mobile (will work on budget phones too, but a little slow) and your creativity is what you need to make intriguing videos using this app.

Best features

• Add multiple layers of texts, images, and video clips

• Control the video speed with smart tools

• Trim, split and preview your videos

• Blend background of images and videos with smart tools

• Make flexible adjustments to the edited videos with easy options in the app

Pros 👍 :

1. No annoying watermarks and pop-ups

2. The interface looks brilliant, almost similar to high-end paid software.

3. Feature-packed app to mitigate all your video edit worries

Cons 👎 :

1. Too many features sometimes disrupt the way you manage your phone.

2. You will need to upgrade to a better device if you haven’t any to enjoy the app to its fullest.

Verdict :

The app is best for beginners who want to give their videos a professional touch without losing much in the pocket.

6. iMovie

This free video editor is very popular among YouTube video makers for its sophisticated interface and editing tools. Though its use is restricted to iOS and Mac users, it serves well for upcoming marketers with limited skills in video editing.

Best features

• Supports 4K resolution allowing cinema-like movie editing on your Apple device.

• Title animations available to give your video a professional look and feel.

• Cloud storage enables easy workflow without having to worry about exporting projects from one device to other.

• You can split, clip, detach audio, and add transitions flawlessly.

• Add interesting filters to your videos.

Pros 👍 :

1. Alter the placement of characters in the video clip or change the background to a different location using this Apple software

2. Drag-n-drop feature to make the software user-friendly and time saving

Cons 👎 :

1. Unavailable to Windows and Android users

2. Not suitable for experts who aim at making super-cool videos with advanced features and 2D/3D animations

Verdict :

For beginners with Apple devices, the software is excellent to start with the basics of editing for YouTube videos and social media posts.

7. Animoto

The software offers a free plan for users with limited access to library tracks, fonts, and constrained video quality. But, even with the limitations, the software is good enough for new marketers and small brands. It helps you make attractive videos quickly without any complex tricks.

Best features

• An online video editor that is loaded with stock images and videos.

• You can upload audio, pictures, and videos to the library from your device file manager.

• Storyboard templates available for fast-paced video creation.

• Direct sharing to social media pages available from this free online video editing tool.

Pros 👍 :

1. User-friendly interface to help easy access to features.

2. Templates make the editor’s work easier.

Cons 👎 :

1. Not available to Mac users

2. Animoto watermarks on all videos made using the free version

Verdict :

It is a great online video editing tool for beginners and marketers with low budgets for video creations. The software suits those brands the best that primarily focus on Instagram marketing.

8. VEED

This one is an excellent web-based solution for all video editors who despise the hassle of downloading and running apps on different devices. With this online editor, they can now work on their projects anytime on the move.

Best features

• Simple graphical UI with one-click buttons for settings and other features

• Subtitle adding and translating has never been so easy as it is with this online software

• Even with the free version, one gets to use 2GB of storage and can produce unlimited video projects in 720p quality

• The video files can be converted to any other format in a flash using the built-in converter.

Pros 👍 :

1. Professional features are available with the basic version of the software (zero subscription).

2. Detailed blogs and video guides are available to help users with the functionalities of the software.

Cons 👎 :

1. Limited features with the free plan.

2. No customizable templates offered.

3. Watermarks on every video made with the basic plan.

4. Audio edits unavailable with the free subscription version.

Verdict :

The balanced combination of efficiency and user-friendliness of the software makes this one suitable for newbies in the video production field. Easy features and quick fixes make this one apt as a free YouTube video editor.

9. OpenShot

OpenShot is widely known for its simple & straightforward video editing features and an intuitive interface.

Best features

• Real-time preview available for transitions between clips

• Unlimited layers for background images & videos, audio tracks & mixing, and watermarks

• Video clip resizing, scaling, snapping, rotation, and trimmings are done quickly with easy tools

• Drag-n-drop images, audio files, or videos directly into the editor and save time with video creation

• Render creative 3D animated titles & effects, such as snow, lens flares, or flying text.

Pros 👍 :

• Control time in your videos by reversing, slowing down, and speeding up the video.

• The free video editing software is available in 70+ languages; it can be translated online with LaunchPad.

• The software maintains an outstanding balance between a plain & simple interface and superior features, making it easy for beginners to create striking videos and impress their audience.

Cons 👎 :

• The interface lags a little (though rarely), killing your time. However, the developers try and solve the bug issues very quickly.

• Not many tutorials are available, making it hard for novice users.

Verdict : This free software allows excellent scope for beginners with zero skills in video production. Besides helping with the budget, the free version also triggers the creativity of new editors with plenty of tools to generate impressive videos.

Best video editing software for YouTube with free subscription - for professionals

If you are looking for advanced-level video production tools, then the following applications can be useful.

10. Blender

It’s one of the best open-source video editors available for free. The feature-packed software is easy-to-use and supports all platforms— Windows, Mac, and Linux. Initially designed as a 3D animation suite, the software now is an a-one solution for all of your video creation needs.

Best features

• Advanced path-tracer engine (Cycle) helps you with realistic rendering.

• Its modeling tool-set comes with extensive features like sculpting, curves, retopology, and more.

• From basic cuts and splicing to advanced motion tracking and masking — do it all with Blender.

• Live preview, chroma vectorscope, luma waveform, advanced audio mixing, syncing, scrubbing, waveform visualization, and histogram displays allow you to enjoy an overwhelming experience with video edits.

• 3D creation suite is available for making professional animated movies using a wide range of visual features.

Pros 👍 :

1. Its custom architecture allows endless tailoring of the UI, window layouts, and shortcuts.

2. Option to code game logic into the software for video game development.

Cons 👎 :

1. Only 32 slots are available for adding videos, images, audio, and effects.

2. Most of the tutorials are 3D animation based, limiting the resources for newbies.

Verdict :

Though the software is free, it isn’t for beginners as the features and editing tools are all for advanced levels of video making and editing. This will be more suitable for professional video makers who work on higher levels and need to use video wall effects for their YouTube stories.

11. DaVinci Resolve

This is the software used by professional moviemakers, film editors, and television show and commercial creators. With availability for both offline and online editing, DaVinci Resolve saves time. It provides excellent results with a high-performance playback engine.

Best features

• The best video editing solution for YouTube and other platforms with a free subscription that combines top-quality editing with color correction, motion graphics, visual effects, and audio edits post-production in a single software

• You need not learn multiple apps or shift from one app to another for different editing tasks. The entire video editing process can happen in one go without compromising the image quality.

• You can collaborate with your team members remotely using Blackmagic cloud-based workflow. No more worries about losing projects on the move

• Fusion, Fairlight, and media organization pages make it easier for you to bring out excellent results post-production.

Pros 👍 :

Free software for professional video and film editing—what else one may need?

Cons 👎 :

Beginners will find it challenging to navigate through the software and use the tools properly. Training and learning is required before jumping into editing projects with this software.

Verdict :

The software has no match as it delivers superior quality of work with tools similar to the ones used by Hollywood professionals. Experts with good knowledge of video editing on other apps can properly use these features. For beginners, this software is not at all suitable, sadly.

12. Hit Film Express

This software is the ultimate solution to produce a truly impressive video with minimal hassle. Like the previous one on this list, HitFilm is also used to edit blockbuster hits. Its availability is limited to Windows and Mac users. And yes, the software comes with all its remarkable features for free.

Best features

• Animation tools allow audio and video transitions without creating composite shots.

• Combined timelines let you switch from one editing tab to the other as you do on a browser. It helps you work on your projects without a glitch.

• No requirement for another app or software to composite or combine. This software is an all-in-one solution for professional video editing.

• Customize playback and pause quality to prevent lagging of the edited clip on any device.

• The composite shot enhancement feature allows you to animate two or more shots at once. With this software feature, you can also simultaneously edit a complicated shot at the top and bottom.

• Develop pitch-perfect audio performance in the edited clips with an in-built audio enhancer.

• HitFilm provides a quick picture-in-picture solution that enables you to position one video clip inside another.

• There is provision for screen simulation.

Pros 👍 :

1. The software works just fine without any add-ons (paid features) for pro-level video edits and video wall creations.

2. Auto-stabilizer to turn shaky footage into an even and balanced one

3. Audio mixer to fine-tune the sound quality of a video clip and make it sound more professional.

4. It is supported on phone.

Cons 👎 :

1. Needs a powerful PC to run the software. Otherwise, the application may not boot or you may face constant disruptions.

2. Not many useful features available for free.

Verdict :

If you are seriously considering using this video-production app for YouTube, it is recommended to purchase a plan; the free program will not suffice. So not exactly suitable for those looking for entirely free software.

13. Descript

The developers of Descript claim that this app makes video editing as easy as word document editing. The free version of the software allows 3 hours of transcription and unlimited screen recordings, which is remarkable for a free YouTube video editing software.

Its paid versions ($12/month & $24/month) are also less expensive than the lot on this list.

Best features

• Screen recording, transcription into text, and remote recording for multi-track audio and video files make YouTube video production effortless.

• You can zoom in on the video elements and animate layers and objects to make the videos more engaging for your audience.

• Filler words and silence gaps can be removed with one simple click.

• Multi-track editing, real-time collaboration, and auto-captioning of the videos are available but with the paid version.

Pros 👍 :

1. Available for both Windows and Mac users.

2. this software is a great choice not only for videos but also for podcast creations.

3. For your videos, you can create a digital voice profile with this app by cloning your own voice.

Cons 👎 : Most of the advanced features are unavailable in the free version.

Verdict :

This software is the best choice for professionals with multiple editing needs (video, audio, podcasts). It comes in handy as a downloadable app. It features basic tools to turn simple videos into lively and beautiful creations.

14. Recast studio

This web-based software can help you create social media videos and YouTube films from already published podcasts, zoom recordings, webinars, and long-form video content.

This can be your best companion to repurpose the old content that you created with so much toil and time!

The free version of the app allows access to all its features but restricts export time to 5 minutes each month. The paid versions start at $22 per month.

Best features

• Choose from library templates to make your repurposed content look interesting and catchy.

• Change fonts & colors, and edit images and subtitles with the option to customize your video content. There are 2500+ Google fonts.

• There are plenty of royalty-free icons, illustrations, videos, and sounds.

Pros 👍 :

1. The software allows you to create your own templates according to brand identity and voice.

2. With advanced editing tools, create videos from scratch, not only just convert old videos and sound recordings

Cons 👎 :

1. The interface isn’t user-friendly

2. Caters to selected marketers’ needs

Verdict :

The software is excellent for those who want to expand their social media engagement further. For the new business owners, this one won’t bring much to the table.

15. Lightworks

The software is remarkably compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac, all three OSs. Though the software comes with both paid and free versions, the basic free edition is more than enough to make professional videos with.

From usual social media videos to extravagant YouTube videos, one can make them all with absolute precision using this software.

Best features

• Simple interface to help you use the features & tools properly to their full potential.

• High-quality video trimming, advanced speed optimization, and multi-cam editing are available.

• Supports all kinds of media files and delivers extraordinary videos for all social media platforms, not only just YouTube.

• No chance of losing your projects as this software allows quick auto-save of every edited task.

• The software comes highly loaded with customizable motion graphics.

• Cloud-based connectivity allows the convenience of working from any location.

Pros 👍 :

1. It offers original stock audio and video clips to add to your videos to give them an elevated standard.

2. Live collaboration with team members available with the pro version of the app.

Cons 👎 : The software is quite difficult to comprehend for beginners in the field.

Verdict :

This software proved to be one of the best for professional video making and sharing those instantly on social media pages and YouTube channels. However, this may turn out to be a loss for a newbie if opted for the paid version first. One can try and get the hang of it with the free edition and gradually move to paid subscription if needed.

Best video editing software for YouTube with free subscription - for all

The following video production apps are used by both professionals and beginners.

16. VSDC

The software supports all video formats and codecs; however, it is compatible only with Windows. Unlike the three video editing tools mentioned above editors, this one doesn’t come totally free for the users. It has both paid and non-paid versions. Fortunately, the free version fulfills your routine video edit needs.

It has an up-to-date interface that makes video editing hassle-free for all.

Best features

• The free multimedia suite comes with a set of advanced tools for editing videos and improving audio.

• The software also allows the recording of audio/voice-overs in real-time.

• Powerful Chroma Key tool available to help you remove green background.

• The software has a wide range of trendy video effects, filters, and transition effects to offer.

For Pro users ($19.99 a year), the software comes with a bunch of more benefits like the following:

• Apply the movement trajectory of any object to a text title, a mask, or an image.

• Audio waveform functionality lets you use a fitting sound graph to edit soundtracks more accurately.

• Use video masking and get to stabilize shaky footage by fixing jitters in the videos.

• Quickly remove any background color, not just green, using a multi-color Chroma key.

Pros 👍 :

1. Simple functions to make cool videos on the go.

2. The free plan is good to go with if the target is to make nice videos with eye-catching effects.

3. Almost no expense on system requirements for VSDC works even on outdated PCs.

Cons 👎 :

1. Only for Windows users

2. Technical support isn’t free

Verdict :

The software is excellent for beginners and professionals as it has superb features on both paid and non-paid versions. For advanced levels of video editing or video wall creations, VSDC Pro would be a better choice.

17. Adobe Premiere Rush

They call it users’ on-the-go solution for video edits.

Adobe Premiere Rush is all about the rush you feel for a video edit and sharing on social media platforms. The quick-fix features in this software make it popular among video makers worldwide.

Even the free version (Starter) offers enough tools to create a professional-looking video in just a few minutes. And if you upgrade to the paid version (Creative Cloud Express) at Rs. 797.68 per month, you will unlock another level of video editing that includes premium features.

This is the best video editing software that comes free for YouTube edits and all other video creation needs both on desktop and mobile devices.

Basic features

• Easy-to-use interface with color variations, audio edit options, and motion graphics.

• Add music to your videos from the app library or the file manager

• Video color auto-correction is available to make your creations look professional automatically

• Adobe can automatically pick transitions and trimming options for your clips if you allow the same.

• Share what you create to the social media channels directly from the app without compromising the ratio.

• A wide range of templates is available for beginners making video edits easier than ever.

• The app allows you to sync your beautiful creations across devices and other Adobe apps like Lightroom. But to avail of the benefit, you must opt for the paid version.

What else do you get with the paid Express edition?

• Access to premium content

• Photoshop Express can be easily used

• 100GB cloud storage to keep your edits safe

• Unlimited desktop exports

• Advanced special effects and audio tools

Pros 👍 :

1. Click and drag for transitions

2. Auto-editing tools & user-friendly interface

3. Easy multi-channel accessibility

Cons 👎 :

1. The Starter edition isn’t for professionals as it comes with limited features.

2. Despite its easy interface, a few simple editing options like clip rotation are a bit tricky to do for the first few times.

Verdict :

Since the app runs on all platforms and on both mobile and desktop, it’s the best choice for skilled video makers who want to share their content readily on social media channels. Beginners will have to spend some time understanding how the app works.

18. Filmora

It is one of the best video editing software for YouTube with a free download option. However, you can buy the app too, only if you want the watermark on all your creations to disappear. It comes with all the advanced features you generally get to avail in other software with costly subscriptions.

Best features

• Built-in effects library for sound, text, titles, and other elements.

• Presets for video compositions to make video edits faster.

• Save your own video templates on the cloud storage and use them whenever needed.

• Instant Mode helps you get a wizard to make brilliant videos in 3 easy steps.

• Step up your creativity with green screen and split-screen features, available totally for free.

Pros 👍 :

1. Huge library of royalty-free audio files

2. 800+ awesome effects for video edits

3. With Filmora 11, get to access speed ramping, masking, stabilization, denoise, and many other powerful features.

4. Learning center and Creator academy to help you make exciting videos in easier ways

Cons 👎 :

1. The free version leaves a watermark of Filmora branding on all your video creations.

2. For Windows and Mac, there are two different versions with separate features.

Verdict :

The software is great for both professionals and beginners. The learning modules help newcomers understand the features and functions quickly. For experts, the tools are enough to create mind-blowing videos for social media channels and YouTube.

19. Clipchamp

You can now fast-forward your video creations with Clipchamp as it’s available in three forms—desktop app, mobile app, and online software. It has a basic plan that everyone can use free of cost and create unlimited videos. The paid plan provides more advanced features at $72 per year, which is comparatively lower priced than other paid apps on the list.

Best features

• Customizable video templates to edit YouTube lips or video walls faster than ever

• Trim and cut videos to your preferred length

• Flip and mirror your videos both horizontally and vertically as per your need

• Add text titles, audio files, and balance colors to take your video editing to a newer and better level.

• Extensive stock of royalty-free images and audio to add to your video projects.

Pros 👍 :

1. Quick and easy interface with comprehensible tools to make videos quickly on the go

2. The free version allows access to all features, which takes down the budget burden from new marketers’ shoulders.

Cons 👎 : Watermark-free videos are exported only in 480p. You will have to opt for the paid version for better resolution with no branding.

Verdict :

The software runs on both desktop and mobile and works with an in-browser setup. Thus, it provides easy access and makes it beginners’ favorite YouTube video editor with a free subscription. For experts, the paid version will work better.

Choosing the best free video editing software for YouTube

All the apps we have mentioned so far are top-rated and are popular among users. You have to identify your priorities and preferences behind video making first. Once sorted, you can choose any from the list and smoothen up your video editing journey.